Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Ther. Why, he stalks up and down like a peacock,- -a stride and a stand: ruminates like an hostess that hath no arithmetic but her brain to set down her reckoning: bites his lip with a politic1 regard, as who should say "There were wit in this head, an 't would out;" and so there is; but it lies as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not show without knocking. The man's undone for ever; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he'll break 't himself in vainglory. He knows not me: I said, "Good morrow, Ajax;" and he replies, "Thanks, Agamemnon." What think you of this man, that takes me for the general? [He's grown a very land-fish, languageless, a monster. A plague of2 opinion! a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin.]

266

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Ther. If to-morrow be a fair day, by eleven o'clock it will go one way or other: howsoever, he shall pay for me ere he has me.

Patr. Your answer, sir.

Ther. Fare you well, with all my heart. 300 Achil. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?

Ther. No, but he's out o' tune thus. What music will be in him when Hector has knock'd out his brains, I know not; but, I am sure, none,—unless the fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make catlings3 on.

Achil. Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him straight.

310

Ther. Let me bear another to his horse; for that's the more capable creature. Achil. My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirr'd;

And I myself see not the bottom of it.

[Exeunt Achilles and Patroclus into tent. Ther. Would the fountain of your mind were clear again, that I might water an ass at it! I had rather be a tick in a sheep than such a valiant ignorance. [Exit.

[blocks in formation]

SCENE I. A Street in Troy.

ACT IV.

Enter, from one side, ÆNEAS, and Servant with a torch; from the other, PARIS, DEIPHOBUS, ANTENOR, DIOMEDES, and others, with torches. Par. See, ho! who's that there?

Dei.

"Tis the Lord Æneas. Ene. Is the prince there in person?— Had I so good occasion to lie long

As you, Prince Paris, nothing but heavenly business

Should rob my bed-mate of my company.

Dio. That's my mind too.-Good morrow, Lord Æneas.

Par. A valiant Greek, Æneas,- take his hand,

Witness the process of your speech, wherein
You told how Diomed, a whole week by days,1
Did haunt you in the field.
Ene.
Health to you, valiant sir,
During all question of the gentle truce;
[But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance
As heart can think or courage execute.

11

Dio. The one and other Diomed embraces. Our bloods are now in calm; and, so long, health; But when contention and occasion meet, By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life With all my force, pursuit, and policy.

Ene. And thou shalt hunt a lion, that will fly

20

With his face backward. - In humane gentle-
ness,]
Welcome to Troy! [now, by Anchises' life,
Welcome, indeed!] By Venus' hand I swear,
No man alive can love in such a sort
The thing he means to kill more excellently.
Dio. We sympathize:-Jove, let Æneas live,
If to my sword his fate be not the glory,
A thousand cómplete courses of the sun!
But, in mine emulous honour, let him die,
With every joint a wound, and that to-morrow!
Ene. We know each other well.
Dio. We do; and long to know each other

worse.

30

[blocks in formation]

Both alike:

59

Dio. He merits well to have her, that doth seek her, Not making any scruple of her soilure,3 With such a hell of pain and world of charge; And you as well to keep her, that defend her, Not palating the taste of her dishonour, With such a costly loss of wealth and friends: [He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up The lees and dregs of a flat tamed piece; You, like a lecher, out of whorish loins Are pleas'd to breed out your inheritors: Both merits pois'd, each weighs nor less nor

more;

But he as he, each heavier for a whore.]

2 Quality = tenor of it.

1 By days, i.e. seven days, but not consecutive.

3 Soilure, defilement Flat, metaphor from wine.

[blocks in formation]

50

Ene. Is not Prince Troilus here?
Pan. Here! what should he do here?
Ene. Come, he is here, my lord; do not
deny him:

It doth import1 him much to speak with me.
Pan. Is he here, say you? 't is more than
I know, I'll be sworn:-for my own part, I
came in late. What should he do here?

Ene. Who!-nay, then: -come, come, you'll do him wrong ere you're ware: you'll be so true to him to be false to him: do not you know of him, but yet go fetch him hither; go.

[blocks in formation]

Cres. O the gods!-what's the matter? Pan. Prithee, get thee in: would thou hadst ne'er been born! I knew thou wouldst be his death:-O, poor gentleman!--A plague upon Antenor!

Cres. Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees I beseech you, what's the matter?

Pan. Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone; thou art chang'd for Antenor: thou must to thy father, and be gone from Troilus: 't will be his death; 't will be his bane; he cannot bear it.

Cres. O you immortal gods!--I will not go. Pan. Thou must.

101

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »